Covid-19 Response – Page 4
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Premium
BT Q3 FY20–21 results: gone today, (hopefully) here tomorrow
Nobody obviously interested in Q3, but shares down sharply. Calendar of optimism around pandemic bounce back and fresh starts. Jansen despairingly concedes transformation will take at least five years. BT doing best to railroad Ofcom on fibre-critical WFTMR.
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M&A
Germany mulls selling stake in Deutsche Telekom
Coalition government considers “scaling back” state holdings in various companies, including Deutsche Telekom. Pandemic-induced financial pressures taking their toll.
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Enterprise (B2B)
Deutsche Telekom takes Corona-Warn-App into B2B space
New T-Systems offering takes flagship track and trace app’s functionality onto a local level, to give business customers an early warning system for coronavirus infections.
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Operations
Vodafone’s Read: “pre-COVID office concept is gone”
Future Ready office pilots taking place in UK, Czechia, and Hungary. Nick Read outlines long-term policy changes implemented in response to the pandemic, with norms changed to support a “hybrid” work future. Distributed, regional model to promote diversity and inclusion.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Systems Solutions: T-Sys covid app spreads to enterprise
Corona-Warn-App goes B2B.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone spectrum auctions to watch, 2021
Markets across Vodafone’s footprint have spectrum auctions planned in 2021. UK, India, Australia among the key bids to watch — though 2020 set a precedent for delays.
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Elsewhere in BT Consumer: EE waives roaming
EE waives EU roaming charges, broadband guarantees personalised, lockdown learning backed.
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Network & Infrastructure
Openreach requests COVID vaccine relief
Direct talks between Openreach and government officials confirmed. COVID-19 surge halts operations. Openreach seeks to highlight public importance of connectivity.
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M&A
Viasat buys out T-Mobile partner RigNet
Maritime connectivity provider RigNet acquired by satellite specialist Viasat in $222m deal. T-Mobile US partnered with RigNet in July 2019, but COVID-related issues have pegged back progress.
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Consumer (B2C)
Movistar steps up smart-home drive
Longstanding partner and stakeholder CaixaBank namechecked as partner on TV-based payment solution. Group’s smart-home play given potential leg up by pandemic, with expanded Living Apps catalogue.
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Vodafone Q2 FY20–21
Cost-cutting props up performance during COVID-19-hit quarter and CFO indicates she is preparing to step up efficiency plans further. Lag in delivery of leadership’s “Phase Two” plans, including Tech 2025, muddying attempts to assure stakeholders of a brighter future. Lots of talk of “underlying” strength as Group’s leadership seeks ...
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Headline numbers: weathering the storm, for now
Key numbers relatively solid, reflecting telecoms sector’s cushioning from worst of pandemic disruption. Cost-cutting props up earnings, offsetting top-line weakness. Results preceded latest coronavirus response measures, which will have exacerbated drag on roaming revenue. Government support measures and resumption of international travel cited as key to maintaining solidity.
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Innovation (R&D)
Vodafone supports drone inspection trial led by Sees.ai
Multimillion-pound drone project ready for deployment, with VfUK a key enabler. Drones to work as surveillance system for construction sites — just one of its many potential use-cases, according to Group CTO. Another addition to Group’s expanding portfolio of drone tech collaborations.
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Public Affairs
BT could face winter strike action
CWU ups the ante in the Count Me In campaign as employees back what could be the first national strike at BT in decades. New Birmingham office to be first regional hub in Better Workspace programme, but the pandemic is complicating other office searches.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Consumer: Premiership Rugby not guaranteed
Rugby talks go to wire; BT Sport welcomes fans back, EE clearing not-spots.
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Premium
Deutsche Telekom Group Q3 FY20
Twin-track Group resilient in Europe while continuing to achieve strong growth in the USA. Mismatch between prospects and sentiment in two regions has become a key challenge for management. Attention turning to next strategic cycle, and how DT will seek to reinvigorate Europe-side businesses in stodgy political and regulatory ...
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Elsewhere in BT Group: Bristol named a new BT home
New Bristol office for 2,000 by 2022; Centrical-SAP training platform for 150,000; 99.9% of electricity now renewable internationally.
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Premium
BT Enterprise dials down on B2B costs
BT Enterprise flags more cost-cutting measures are being implemented as COVID-19 disruption adds to the broader challenges it faces in the digital era. As ever, partner and supplier consolidation and change is part of the plan. CEO Jansen presents enterprise 5G as bright spot amid gloom.